CANF White Paper: Cuba in Transition 2006

Introduction
Despite the many uncertainties plaguing Cuba's current political scenario following the transfer of
dictatorial powers from Fidel to Raul Castro, something remains certain: the totalitarian system
created, maintained and supported, almost exclusively, by Fidel Castro's overpowering personality and
style of government cannot survive his physical demise. In effect, what we are witnessing since July 31,
2006, is the final chapter of an era. What remains substantially uncertain is the nature of what it is to
come.
The fundamental problem facing the Castro brothers' government is that when confronted with death
or incapacitation, the man who wielded total power for almost five decades had no institutions to
which safely transfer that power, resorting instead to charging a group of his trusted followers with the
responsibility of overseeing the continuation of his disastrous legacy. It may be months before the
forces unleashed by these actions become evident, but they are there, pulling at the seams of the
Castro regime, eroding the control of the small inner circle over the party faithful, and stirring the
rising expectations of the populace, less resigned to their miserable fate now that their maximum
leader is not there to assure them of better times to come.
This reality has brought on a historic opportunity for the homegrown opposition and those within the
military and civilian ranks who are in a position to act on the course of Cuba's future. Similarly, the
Cuban exile community and the international community remain critical to facilitating the process of
democratic change. In the end, if the system cannot quickly forge and strengthen the institutions that
can sustain it, it is destined for collapse.
The Cuban democratic opposition, the Cuban exile community, the United States, the international
community and other allies of Cuban freedom must work together to bring the goal of Cuban freedom
to fruition, before the collapse of the Castro regime begets more violence, tragedy and desperation.
Above all, the key premise of this paper is that time is of the essence and that it is critical to act now.
Passive observation and waiting for the "day after" is tantamount to giving the opportunity for the
Cuban government to re-organize, increase the repression and postpone its demise, a possibility
bearing dire consequences for the Cuban people.


It is highly improbable that a true, stable, democratic system will ever take root in Cuba without the
active participation of those who have learned to live in freedom and care the most for those on the
island that have been denied such an opportunity. Though it is the Cuban people on the island who
must play the leading role in forging a democracy, the exiles must be encouraged to act as an agent of
change, to accompany them in their journey, to counsel, to invest, and to contribute to the success of
the new Cuban nation. The time to work together to develop effective strategies and take decisive
action is now, in the face of the impending vacuum of power, before Raul Castro or other non-
democratic faction of the Cuban regime are able to consolidate its control over the Cuban people
through false promises and violence.
* This document was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, Trustees and Associates of
the Cuban American National Foundation on October 13, 2006.
The Cuban American National Foundation
For over twenty five years, the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) has worked towards
facilitating and promoting a non-violent transition to democracy in Cuba. Throughout its history, CANF
has lobbied Washington and the capitals of the world, searching for allies in the cause of freedom.
The CANF was instrumental in developing and garnering support for such landmark legislation as the
Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Libertad Act of 1996. The economic sanctions imposed on the
Castro regime will play an ever important role in the road to a transition, providing a powerful
incentive for the Cuban government to comply with international norms.
In the 1980's, the world began to evidence a surge of internal voices openly opposing the Cuban regime
and criticizing its blatant and systematic violation of human rights. The CANF was the first organization
outside of Cuba to recognize their legitimacy and importance, and to bring their plight to the world's
attention. In support of their efforts, the CANF sent and continues to send humanitarian aid to
members of the opposition and the families of political prisoners.
Realizing that change in Cuba had to be the result of a grassroots movement arising from within the
Cuban people, the CANF spearheaded the creation of Radio and Television Marti, a vehicle with which
to brake the stringent censorship imposed by the regime and deliver objective news and information to
the Cuban people.
Yet another focus for the CANF has been to reunite families separated by the Cuban regime's
systematic policies of estrangement. Since 1988, the CANF has reunited thousands of Cuban families
stranded in third countries under the Cuban Exodus Relief Program. The program, funded entirely by


the CANF and its private donors, resettled and reunified Cuban families, at no cost to the U.S.
taxpayer.
After 25 years, the CANF remains committed to the principles on which it was founded:
-CANF supports a non-violent transition to a pluralistic, free-enterprise democracy which
fosters economic prosperity and social justice, grounded in the rule of law, and the
constitutionally guaranteed protection of fundamental human rights as well as the social,
political, and economic rights of the Cuban people.
CANF seeks to engage, support, and empower the Cuban people in ways that do not aid or
legitimize the Castro regime. To that end, we advocate measures in direct support of Cuban
civil society that fulfill the Cuban people's historic political aspirations and legitimate
humanitarian needs, while maintaining international political and economic pressure on the
Castro regime.
CANF supports economic sanctions and tourist travel restrictions in order to deny resources to
the Castro regime that would otherwise help perpetuate its practices of slave labor and tourist
apartheid.
CANF assists non-violent pro-democracy activists on the island and provides a voice for the
victims of oppression in Cuba by informing public opinion - particularly governments and human
rights organizations - on the systematic violation of human rights in Cuba.
The Key to Democratic Change: Free Elections
The return to democratic rule must be punctuated by the Cuban people's right to determine their own
destiny, a right three generations of Cubans have been able to exercise only while in exile. We
welcome statements such as those of the President of Costa Rica and Nobel laureate Oscar Arias and
the Secretary of Commerce of the United States Carlos Gutierrez, both of whom have called on the
Cuban government to allow its people to freely choose their system of government and those who will
govern them, by means of an appropriate popular consultation reflecting the true, transparent,
unimpeded will of the people. Such a request should be echoed by all governments, institutions and
personalities of the free world.
An important signal of the Cuban government's willingness to allow the people to determine its own
destiny would be to free, unconditionally, all political prisoners, guarantee free expression of peaceful
dissent and permit de existence of opposing parties and organizations. Such actions should exact an
equally positive response from the United States and the international community. Of course, it is
nave to expect a long entrenched totalitarian system to reform on the outcome of a single popular


consultation. Only the institutionalization of a universal, frequent, secret, totally transparent and fully
respected electoral process in the presence of exhaustive safeguards and the free flow of information
as well as the unrestricted freedom of expression, can guarantee the perpetuation of democratic rule.
Cuban Civil Society & Opposition Groups
For almost five decades, the Cuban people have lived under a system that crushes incentive,
independent thought and analysis, and attempts to replace it with conformity and apathy. Yet in every
Cuban, there persists a desire to be free and to fulfill their human potential.
The growth of civil society in Cuba is a testament to the indomitable courage of the Cuban people.
Those who compose the ranks of the independent libraries, cooperatives, parallel professional
associations and self-help organizations and groups, are a critical, indispensable component of re-
building civil society and laying the foundation for a peaceful, democratic transition.
It is essential that we do not wait for the "day after" to direct our best efforts and attention to the
encouragement and support of Cuba's emergent civil society. As we've witnessed in the cases of the
Eastern European and other now-free nations, the existence of a civil society pre-transition has a direct
correlation with the pace and success of the post-communist transition to democracy.
Our goal should be to provide today's Cuban civil society with the knowledge and tools to precipitate
the process of transition and ensure that it is as rapid, successful, and permanent as possible. To
accomplish this, Cuba's dissidents must count on direct and substantive material assistance along with a
transfer of knowledge and training that instills in them an attitude of independence and self-assurance.
It is also critical to aid in the development of entrepreneurial activity, self-reliance groups and
institutions that help in the creation of a parallel, independent, freedom-bent society.
But these programs of assistance must recognize that a pre-transition developing civil society, such as
the one emerging in Cuba, is by definition, non-governmental, non-autocratic, self-induced and self-
reliant. To restrict the assistance in order to comply with the multitude of rules and regulations that
govern aid organizations such as USAID is to go against the very nature of what is being assisted. To
that effect, we propose:
Fund and make possible a substantial, unrestricted and direct distribution of aid to members of Cuban
independent civil society and opposition groups. The funds and material aid should be made available
directly to members of the opposition rather than through third parties.


Permit and help fund the establishment of a micro-loan/joint-venture program between Cubans
abroad and their relatives, friends, and other self-employed individuals and groups in the island to help
in the establishment of independent farms and small businesses. This idea, first advanced by CANF in
1998 under the Solidarity Act, a bill introduced in the United States Senate, would stimulate self-
reliance, provide a means for greater independence from the State and create a parallel economy.
Individuals and organizations anywhere in the world could serve as sponsors and collateral signers of
the loans, if necessary. No Cuban based asset should be placed at risk, at least until a reliable
commercial code is in place.
Allow remittances of up to $1,000 each quarter by a United States person or group to any
independent association, cooperative or individual in Cuba to support--
(A) The micro-enterprise activities of an independent, self-employed Cuban;
(B) The activities of an independent nongovernmental organization
Fund scholarships in third countries for sons and daughters of political prisoners, dissidents and
families marginalized by the regime.
Cuba's Civilian Government & Military Leadership
In Cuba, under the "temporary" rule of Raul Castro, there are many indications that the inner circle has
in fact begun to fracture under the pressures of group and individual interests. These include the
expectations, uncertainties and concerns of the second generation "revolutionaries", those young men
and women who came up during the periodo especial, which followed the demise of the Soviet Union in
the early 1990's. In addition, the significant role played by the military in the economy, make them an
inextricable and important player in a transition. They must be assured of a dignified participation in
the reconstruction of the nation that no harm will come to those who have not actively participated in
violent crimes against the population and have heeded the call that CANF made to assume the historic
duty of forming a civic-military transitional government that can take Cuba towards democracy. To
that effect, we propose:
The exile community and the United States should send a clear and consistent message to those in
Cuba within the ranks of power, civilian as well as military, to work toward the formation of a civilian-
military transitional government and, as important, that both the military and the present bureaucracy
have a role to play in the democratic future of Cuba. Offering diplomatic recognition, aid, and the
backing of the most powerful nation in the world will certainly provide an incentive to those who today
hesitate with the question of whether or not to act.


Foreign governments, particularly those with significant presence and influence in Havana, should
transmit the same message as well as their own offers of diplomatic recognition and assistance.
Establish an International Democracy Fund for Cuba through such bodies as the European Union and
the Organization of American States, to provide economic assistance and technical guidance for a
transition government, thus creating another powerful incentive to reformers within the regime.
Increase and diversify transmissions of Radio and TV Mart, especially with programs directed to the
military and the ranks of the Communist party. To avoid any semblance of conflict of interest or
questions of objectivity, we recommend privatizing Radio and TV Marti and converting it into a non-
profit, government-grantee organization such as PBS or Radio Free Europe.
Addressing the Fear of Mass Migration
Through consecutive United States administrations the fear of instability in Cuba producing a mass
migration has been a significant road block to a more rational, pro-active, Cuba policy. For many years,
Fidel Castro utilized this to his advantage, knowing full well that the prospect of thousands of Cubans
heading towards U.S. shores would make policy makers think twice. The focus and preoccupation with
immigration, though understandable, by no means should drive U.S. policy at this critical juncture. The
only way to prevent the flight of Cubans from their homeland is to help them obtain what Castro has
denied them: freedom, peace and wellbeing. That should be the main objective of the U.S.
government's policies toward Cuba.
Recent statements made by the Bush Administration will help streamline the visa processing and
prioritize those individuals with families in the United States. We applaud these new initiatives and
would also propose the following:
Take the focus off of immigration and send a clear message to Havana that a mass migration will not
be tolerated, nor is it in their best interests and what the consequences of such act will bring.
Expand the excellent program of granting visas to Cuban medical doctors and medical personnel
serving international missions for the Castro regime to diplomatic personnel and their families serving
the Cuban government in third countries.
Experienced and highly trained immigration personnel should screen Cuban asylum seekers when
intercepted at sea. Those denied asylum should have the benefit of a second screening at the U.S.
Interests Section in Havana. The benefit of the doubt should be placed with the asylum seeker, as
provided by international norms.


Use the majority of lottery visas for family reunification in the United States, according to
humanitarian and closeness of kin relationships.
Economic Sanctions and Travel Restrictions
Economic sanctions are an important tool that not only restrict resources from reaching the regime but
that, today, play an important role in providing incentives for democratic reform. We support the Bush
Administration's statements in the media and via formal channels that, once the Cuban government
begins to take significant steps towards democratic reform, the United States stands ready to initiate
the lifting of economic sanctions and provide substantial assistance to the people of Cuba. The
importance of this message reaching those with the possibilities of changing Cuba's future course
cannot be overstated.
We support the continuation of tourist travel restrictions to Cuba because they serve the purpose of
denying additional funds from reaching the regime and avoiding Americans from becoming complicit in
such abhorrent regime practices as slave labor and apartheid. On the other hand, it is important to
point out that non-tourist, humanitarian and "purposeful" Cuban American travel to Cuba has an
important role to play. Cuban Americans, in effect, become conduits for self-help, interaction and
reforming attitudes toward democracy, human rights and the individual's role in society, among many
others.
Therefore, we propose:
Conditionally lift the 2004 Bush Administration restrictions for Cuban American travel to the island to
permit multiple travel for bona fide humanitarian and self-help missions, as the presence of Cuban
Americans as "ambassadors of change" at this important juncture can be significant in accelerating and
pressuring the transition we all desire.
Expand the travel category of "support for the Cuban people" and encourage groups and organizations
that are willing to conduct democracy-building workshops and informational sessions to dissidents and
independent civil-society.
The Exile Community: Agents of Change
Seldom has the world at large received an incoming community more reliable, self-assured and
determined as that of Cubans forced abroad by the Castro dictatorship. Cubans have arrived in many
countries throughout the world, with the same driving purpose: Achieving freedom and prosperity for
themselves and for those they were forced to leave behind.


The Castro dictatorship has spent vast resources over several decades in defaming and smearing Cubans
in exile. Among the many infamies and falsehoods, Cuban exiles have been accused of being interested
only in reclaiming their confiscated dwellings and evicting those Cuban families who currently reside in
them. Nothing further from the truth, in fact, the CANF has publicly stated in our Message to the Cuban
People (Revista Fundacin, August, 2006): We firmly oppose any intent to evict Cuban families from
their present dwellings or land parcels and we support actions that facilitate their attaining full
property rights over said dwellings and parcels. The true purpose of the Cuban exiled community is
none other than to help in the creation of an independent, democratic republic that preserves the
political freedoms and human rights that have been denied to the Cuban people for decades.
Cubans throughout the world desire to play a selfless, redemptive role as true agents of change in the
return of democracy to their native land. They recognize it as their duty as well as their right. As allies
in the cause for freedom and democracy, the United States, the international community and all those
who dream and hope for a free Cuba, must recognize and utilize the insight, experience and the
invaluable contributions brought to the table by the Cuban exile community in the building of peace,
democracy and freedom for the people of Cuba.